22 Sep SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2024
The first line that stood out for me was this: “They did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask.” Jesus’ disciples, by definition, are students who’ve chosen to hang out with Jesus for one purpose: to learn from him. One important aspect of learning is what? Asking questions when you don’t understand, right? But why didn’t they?
How many of you are comfortable asking for clarification? Sometimes asking questions feels risky. We may not like the answer we get. Remaining ignorant or holding onto false hope seems preferable to disappointment. We get overwhelmed by the information already given and don’t think to ask questions because we are too busy processing what we’ve already heard.
What had the disciples heard? Jesus had just made several definitive statements which are statements spoken without a doubt as truth. Those statements contained words loaded with emotion that elicit fear. Listen to the verbs. Betrayed. Killed. Wait, what? Would the disciples have recognized when Jesus referred to The Son of Man that Jesus was referring to himself?
According to the English Standard Version Study Bible, the author of the Book of Mark was an attendant, disciple and interpreter of the apostle Peter whose aim it was to record the words and deeds of Jesus witnessed firsthand by Peter. Key themes of the book are: 1) Jesus seeks to correct messianic expectations and misunderstandings. 2) Jesus is man. 3) Jesus is the Son of God. 4) Jesus is the Son of Man with all power and authority. 5) Jesus as the Son of Man must suffer. 6) Jesus is Lord. 7) Jesus calls his followers to imitate him in humble service, self-denial, and suffering. 8) Jesus teaches on the kingdom of God and implies that God continues to call a people to himself. These themes are introduced and interspersed throughout Mark’s narrative telling of Jesus’ ministry and mission which demonstrate Jesus’ authority to act as the culmination of God’s work: the redemption of Israel and the entire world.
So, yeah. I believe that Jesus’ disciples would have recognized that Jesus was speaking of himself in that case. They may not have understood, but they understood enough to know that if they did ask questions, they would come to learn more things to be frightened about.
Haven’t we all been in a similarly vulnerable position where we may not have understood what we’ve been told and at the same time know that we aren’t ready to hear more in detail? I feel that way everytime I see a course syllabus or am asked to plan each week months in advance.
Now onto the second portion of today’s gospel reading which goes nicely with today’s second reading. Jesus overhears his disciples arguing on the way to Capernaum but waits until they arrive and are in the house to ask them a clarifying question.
“What were you arguing about on the way?” He knew who was arguing and that they were arguing, that much was clear. But about what they were arguing, he seemed not to know. So he asked. In contrast to the route his disciples took, when Jesus did not understand, he was not afraid to ask.
Actually Jesus must have already known, because after his disciples were silent, not wanting to confess or tell on themselves, Jesus sits them down and addresses not only them but the issue between them: their personal need for affirmation, knowing they were regarded as doing a good job and having value, their tendency to compete with each other rather than cooperate, their desire to be recognized as needed or special, even exceptional.
After watching the Olympics I got totally burned out on the whole premise: gaining a title which places you among the top three greatest athletes in the world in one particular sports category. Think about it. There were several heats made up of individuals or teams made up of at least eight to twelve people in every qualifying round.
In the finals, there were at least eight to twelve and yet only the top three were recognized. What separated those who received the greatest esteem and those whose names were immediately forgotten was often no more than mere hundredths of a second or mere hundredths of a point.
Medals were awarded or denied on the basis of not only human calculations and technological precision, but a rulebook of regulations. This year it became quite evident that even within such a vast worldwide system based on reason and regulation, things will still happen randomly or by choice, according to the limitations of being human, according to how one day our performance may vary from yesterday or tomorrow and how some things just seem to happen arbitrarily.
This was how the disciples experienced life, too. They couldn’t comprehend all that was at stake. They started competing amongst themselves hoping to win individual medals while Jesus reminded them of being on the same team. Jesus showed them that he could easily substitute a little child in their place, that anyone willing to put themselves last and serve would become the most valuable player after victory was won.
Jesus was about victory, but not in the way we strive for it. His brother James wrote, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom from above which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.”
James lectures Jesus’ disciples on having bitter envy and selfish ambition in their hearts. He explains that it is not wisdom from above, that is superior, but from below: earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
Envy and selfish ambition cause disorder and wickedness like when two young adult males who happened to be brothers noticed a family unloading Christmas presents from their car into their house. At first, they decided to try and grab some presents, but they couldn’t resist stealing the car which had been left running. This led to a high speed chase with police that ended up killing an innocent driver.
If we look at the image painted by Jesus’ example, let’s ask, “What is the demeanor of one who welcomes a little child?” I know the answer to this question because I realize that no one sitting behind little children in our church is able to listen to much I say. They are focused on the attention of an infant or toddler looking their way.
Ask any grandparent, babysitter or lover of children. The first thing we do is get down on their level. We talk their language. We show interest in their treasured objects. And if they pick up something of ours, we act delighted and let them have it (unless we’re too worried about breakage.) We think of how to please and entertain them. We aim to feed them so they’ll grow up happy and healthy. We seek to find ways to make them want to stay.
Conflicts and disputes among us come from cravings at war within us over things we want and do not have. So we commit murder and covet what we cannot obtain, what was never ours to claim, what we imagine might be possible if only things were different.
So, instead of being angry or frustrated that people aren’t hearing the sermon I wrote and am trying to deliver faithfully, I see joy on people’s faces during a time when for the most part, there’s little expression. I recognize that God is speaking to them through a little child who is opening their heart wider than words ever could.
That the people in the pews are being fed delight straight from heaven. Then I ask God to speak to my heart about wanting something from my congregations for my own pleasure. I find joy in what I have already received from them. I resist the devil and he flees. I see God draw near and remain among us all as your pastor in this church family.
What Jesus says is true. If we will get out of each other’s way and serve, we will get out of our own way, too. Like an Olympic athlete, we’ll arrive at the finish line and receive what we sought all along. We will gain the reward of much practice and training.
We won’t be compared with anybody else because each person will win their individual category and be the only one standing on the podium. Together we will each have had the chance to ring the bell, to hear the same anthem and watch the same flag rise. Pride will come from universal victory over the forces of death, evil and sin.
When the race is over, we’ll each receive the welcome Jesus was talking about, the same one Olympic medalists received from coaches, teammates, family members and fans, our welcome into heaven from God as a little child. We’ll experience the love and affirmation we always craved, the success of knowing we did our best without being in competition.
Service is the same as cooperation. As James wrote,” It’s living a good life where works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.” Let us pray.
Lord, have mercy. Thank you for constantly reminding us not to argue amongst ourselves, especially when cooperation is needed. We don’t wish to be united only by the enemies we hold in common, but by unity of purpose, shared wisdom, core values, belief and trust in you for knowledge of what is good and righteous, what is of service beyond that which is self-fulfilling.
Help us to ask questions when afraid rather than make assumptions or remain silent. Teach us to welcome and embrace whomever you place in our midst. In your holy name we pray, Amen.